What Has Actually Changed?
At Brownhill Insurance Group, our role is to help businesses cut through the noise. So here’s a calm, practical look at what has truly changed in 2025 — and what remains consistently important.
Attacks are faster, more automated, and increasingly targeted at SMEs
The shift:
• More attacks specifically engineered for SMEs
• Shorter “dwell time” — incidents escalate within hours, not days
• Increased use of AI to mimic staff communication
Email remains the single biggest risk — but the methods have evolved
• AI-generated emails that mimic internal tone of voice
• Fake invoices created using real client/staff details
• Deepfake voice messages imitating senior leaders
The barrier to creating convincing fraud is significantly lower.
Supply-chain vulnerabilities now matter as much as your own systems
• Vendor risk management
• Software dependencies
• Data-handling standards across supply chains
Your resilience now extends beyond your perimeter.
Ransom demands have increased, but data theft is the primary goal
The trend: higher ransom demands combined with reputational risk.
Cyber insurance expectations have tightened
Insurers now expect SMEs to have:
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Patch and update processes
• Staff awareness training
• Secure backups
• Clear incident-response planning
These measures aren’t burdensome; they’re the digital equivalent of locking your doors.
Good cyber hygiene is still the single most effective defence
SMEs with the basics in place continue to see drastically fewer and less severe incidents. These include:
• Strong passwords and MFA
• Updated software
• Verified payment processes
• Regular backup testing
• Staff who know what to look for
Cyber resilience isn’t about perfection. It’s about removing the easy entry points.
What this means for SMEs in 2025
Despite the rapid evolution of technology, the most important shift this year is the quality of attacks, not the quantity. Criminals are more organised, more convincing, and more efficient.
But the fundamentals remain the same:
good habits, good systems, and the right protection.
At Brownhill Insurance Group, we help SMEs balance proactive cyber hygiene with the peace of mind that only a well-structured insurance policy can provide.
If you’d like an expert review of your cyber cover or IT risk posture, our Commercial Team is here to help.
